Epeigné-les-Bois: birds are cold and the ground is frozen

We regularly feed the birds, especially at the moment when the ground is frozen making it difficult for them to feed. Some shots of a blackbird feeding on some scraps of bread this morning.

... and a tit, too.

 

Epeigné-les-Bois: cold but bright

Frozen ball on a bramble

Overnight from Christmas to Boxing Day the temperature fell to -7C producing plenty of givré (hoar frost) but there was brilliant bright sunshine during the day with little wind. Another good cold spell to help kill off bugs etc. in the vineyard. The cold is due to continue through part of today before getting milder with rain forecast for tomorrow.

Hoar frost

Interesting tree against the blue sky

2010 Born Digital Awards: submissions now open

 

Submissions are now open for the first edition of the Born Digital Awards. Details here. There are five categories and the final date for submissions in 28th February 2011. The winer of each category will receive 1000€ and I understand that the winners will be announced the London International Wine Trade fair in mid-May. Submissions must have been published first on the net and published during 2010. 

The five categories are: best investigative wine story, best editorial wine writing, best wine tourism feature, best wine themed video and best winery themed video. The intention is to expand the categories in future editions. I would like to see an award for the best single issue, non commercial wine related campaign and one for ebooks, probably limited to those self published. Suggestions for other categories welcome. 

Although the judging is in English, submissions can be in any language. This is a most welcome and brave innovation which opens these awards up right across the net, while it clearly makes life complicated for the organisers. It makes these new awards truly international in a way that the Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Awards are currently not despite their name.   

On the 2010 panel of judges are Jancis Robinson MW, Evan Schnttman, Elin McCoy, Patrick Schmitt and Robert Joseph. Undoubtedly an eniment panel but it is a pity and a little surprising that the panel doesn't include someone whose mother tongue isn't English.